Spurgeon, Charles Haddon

1834 - Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Victorian England's best-known Baptist minister, was born on June 19th in Kelvedon, Essex and spent his childhood and early teenage years in Stambourne, Colchester, and Newmarket.

1850 - His lack of a college degree was no hindrance to his remarkable preaching career, which began, when he was only fifteen years old.

1853 - Spurgeon's reputation as a preacher caught the attention of New Park Street, London's largest Baptist church. He was invited to preach there in December and, following a brief probationary period, he agreed to move to London and become the church's new pastor.

1856 - He married Susannah Thompson; their only children, twin sons Thomas and Charles.

1857 - Spurgeon's work in London was not limited to preaching and sermon-publishing. He also served as president of the Pastors' College, which he founded.

1867-1879 - He established the Stockwell Orphanage, which opened for boys and girls; and oversaw evangelistic and charitable enterprises such as almshouses, organizations for distributing food and clothing to the poor, and a book fund for needy ministers.

1890 - Spurgeon published scores of religious books in addition to his sermons; the most significant works include Lectures to My Students, a collection of talks delivered to the students of his Pastors' College, and the 7-volume Treasury of David, a best-selling devotional commentary on the Psalms.

1891 - He preached his final sermon at the Metropolitan Tabernacle on June 7th.

1892 - He died in France on January 31st; on February 9th, over 60,000 people filed past his casket in the Tabernacle. He was buried at Norwood Cemetery on February 11th.